This elephant float--designed for Eastwood Elementary School's May carnival--directs visitors to the Bike Co-op. PHOTOGRAPH BY SUE KROPP Bike Co-op Gears Up for Summer by Brian Dowdy
			JULY 6, 2001--Gears aren’t the only things changing this summer at the Oberlin Bike Co-op. Co-op staff members and volunteers will be hosting a variety of new programs for both children and adults, making Oberlin an even more bike friendly community. New features include Bike-in Movies, BMX free style classes, and low-rider construction; along with old favorites like weekly bike repair classes and the bike rental program. "A lot of these programs have been ideas in people's minds for a long time. We’re trying to really push these programs out, and get people in," says Benjy Mason, co-op staff member and Oberlin College student. Mason is one of three summer program advisors helping approximately 75 new co-op members. Working with him are Katy Goodman, a junior from Oakland, California, and Zach Moser. "We’re trying to establish the co-op as a community organization, rather than just a student organization," Mason adds. As a step toward their goal, co-op staff members are getting involved with organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, three of whose members strapped on aprons and got to work at last week’s repair class. The co-op also will be working with the Oberlin Police Department and the town's Chamber of Commerce this summer. But perhaps the greatest asset they offer is just being around. Open five days a week, the co-op is a unique resource for Oberlin citizens who need a bike, need repairs or parts, or just like bikes. "We’re here a lot," says Goodman. "We spend a lot of time helping people with their bikes and getting kids excited about bikes." The kids are definitely excited. Helping to strip down a bike during a repair class, one boy said, "I’m already used to tearing things apart!" Classes welcome community members of all ages to learn everything from the basics of bike repair and construction to building a bike from the ground up. This summer classes will include sessions on bike safety and free style trick riding. Fifteen local children have participated in classes this summer. Students are encouraged to continue their involvement beyond the classroom. Five local youths have earned bikes of their own in this summer’s Earn-a-Bike program. After attending repair classes, students can put in eight hours of work at the co-op, pick a bike that needs repair work, fix it, and keep it. For adult bike lovers, the co-op offers a session of adult repair classes, as well as weekly Saturday morning bike rides and a bike-to-work week in early August. This year’s summer team continues to support the co-op’s vision for the future. Staff members are working to get the co-op officially recognized as a non-profit organization, and are brainstorming ways for the Bike Co-op to move downtown. Staff members also are working hard to ensure that the co-op will remain open and accessible to the entire community during the school year, when the shop is run entirely by volunteers. "We want kids who come here during the summer to feel comfortable coming here and working with college students in the fall," says Moser. For more information on classes and other programs, or to donate a bike, please contact the Bike Co-op at 440-775-5351.
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